Give your child a screen and the rest of us peace

[OlympicsFanGirl]

Second long train journey this weekend and yet again a whole carriage having to put up with loud, noisy, whining kids.

It's grating and it's constant and there are hours to go.

Parents just don't seem bothered.

Rest of the carriage now sharing looks, rolling eyes and sighing.

Just give them tablets and headphones and the rest of us some peace and quiet.

How old? DS wasn’t interested until he was about 5-6. Still has trouble sitting through a whole film.

We’ve tried reading/puzzles but he gets motion sick and both of those make him vomit! Screens or nothing (usually nothing, he likes train rides).

It's rammed unfortunately and I'm travelling with my DD and elderly mother.

The last hour has been much better (since they got the tablets out).

@Fluufer have you been in a “quiet” carriage recently? I’ve given up booking them as they’re full of noisy adults.

And then there'd be another thread on here saying how awful it was that the children were sat on screens the entire time 🙄.

This! 👌🏽.

This.

But a screen only works for some time, after which my toddler wants to be a toddler again. Singing, clapping, running around, having tantrums.

👏👏👏

I do agree with you that whiney bored kids are a ball ache but I'd rather have them than the 'professional' spread my laptop across half the train, talking utter bollocks into their phones about their jobs and generally being just utter nob jockeys. Give me a bored kid any day.

I haven't read the full thread but you get people complaining about kids 'being addicted to screens' and the whole 'we never had them and managed'

...to this person actively encouraging ipads 😂

parents cant win.

Anyway, I think said parents should have respect for other passengers and managed their behaviour better.

This crap^ Says it all really about where we are as a country.

Updates for those who've not read the thread

• I have headphones
• I have hobbies
• I'm a parent
• I did ask the kicker to to stop
• Their behaviour was truly awful - spoiling the journey for everyone not just me
• No requirement for all children to be mute and still 😳 All the other children on the training are behaving nicely including my own
• Peace is restored - they have screens.

Travelling with children is very hard work. You are constantly on edge and I hated it when mine were little - I have one autistic child and one with high anxiety and they have always been scared of everything but just staying at home would have been easy but wouldn't help them in the big wide world. I did give up eventually and rarely take them out now! When we were out they were on super high alert they couldn't concentrate on screens. I used to hate the stares when mine were playing up due to their anxiety - my DH stepped away from coming out with us when they were little because of their behaviour. I agree it isn't fair on other people hence why I stopped. They are now teenagers and still go nowhere because of their fear of the big wide world,

It is an interesting debate because I think I did too much with mine when they were very little (under 5) - I never stuck them in front of the TV - we went to parks and on buses and day trips on trains - we were rarely at home but they saw things like - a drunk man. a dog running free, a lady fall over and a bike get stolen all when they were very little, and unfortunately all these things have stuck with them . In hindsight I would have stayed home much more and kept them sheltered from the world until they were much older, Its hard because I love going out and seeing new places etc but I just do it on my own now.

Other countries they seem much more accepting of children and I think if we lived in France maybe it would be different because nobody judges you and maybe I would have felt more able to just ride the storm and take them out and then they would have become more used to the world instead of me feeling I needed to shut them away. When we went on holiday to France about 8 yrs ago they were completely different when they were out because myself and my DH were so relaxed because there was no judgement from anybody else.

So did you then move on to asking their parent to stop them?

No, parents need to parent. Children need to be taught how to behave properly in public, not just given a screen. That's laziness. Are you not aware of research linking the rise in anxiety and depression in children to overuse of screens?

@Marseillaise

Yes to no effect

@unsync

Parenting / screens / snacks / toys whatever it takes to stop the antisocial behaviour.

You ignored your daughter she probably found them entertaining because you don't sound right.

Strangers are always perfect parents 🙄

OP have you noticed the latest trend of putting down parents who do allow iPads in shared spaces?

Tbh I'm tired of the constant parent shaming threads.

I am pro-screen in a way that would probably make many parents and non parents disapprove - I’m sure mine watch too much. BUT not all kids will stop and sit still to watch a tablet. I have friends whose children just aren’t interested and I feel really sorry for the parents, it’s bloody hard work never being able to plonk them in front of a screen.

As an adult you can stick in some lovely noise cancelling headphones and enjoy a brilliant podcast/ audiobook/ movie without anyone judging you or giving you looks. How lucky you are.

@Charlottescobweb

I havent ignored my daughter at all.

My dc doesn't have a tablet/ phone as he's still too young imo. But for train journeys I always bring snacks, books, colouring and toys, plus I talk to him and don't just sit staring at my own phone ignoring him 😉.

@KittyWindbag

Fortunately peace was restored these kids were given tablets. 🙏

That's the problem they have no imagination to keep themselves occupied they are ruled by technology. I feel sorry for them they will never learn how to use their imagination.

What sort of tablets to keep them quiet were you thinking of?😀